Moving is already a very stressful experience, adding a cat into the mix has additional challenges. Cats are known for being territorial. It can cause them severe trauma if exposed to too many changes at once. A stressed cat can show behavioural problems or even worse, stop eating and drinking. The latter can very quickly lead to more severe health problems. So how do we help them adjust to all the changes and settle into their new residence? Luckily, there are some tips & tricks to help ease some of the tension.
If your cat is not used to their carrier, make sure to introduce it to them far in advance before moving day. Leave it out open for them to explore in, spray some catnip on it and even leave some treats inside it as lucky finds. All of this will help to create familiarity and allow your cat to have a positive association with their carrier. The same can be said for harness training your cat. You can have a look at the previous issue of We Love Pets SA for tips on how to harness train your cat. Having a harness trained cat will really make your life much easier when moving. It will especially come in handy during transportation and introducing them to their new space.
Is your new home quite a distance away or is your cat generally quite anxious? Speak to your vet about a mild sedative to help take the edge off during transition. Make sure to test it on your cat beforehand in order to see how your kitty will respond to it.
As soon as the packing and chaos of the move starts, keep your kitty as far away from all the action as possible. We were lucky enough that our cat, Knuffel, is used to joining us on visits to my parents. He feels very at home and comfortable there. He moved to their house the day before the packing started and will only be introduced to his new home once everything is set up, calm and ready for him. If you are not as lucky to have another place where your cat feels at home, change a small room into their safe zone. Pack the room beforehand and then keep their food, toys, litter box and all of their familiar items in there with them. Limit movement and noise around the room. Make sure that you kitty’s safe zone is the last room to pack up before the move.
I’m a huge fan of cat pheromone products. Have you ever seen how cats calmly rub against people and items? They are marking them as safe with their odourless, colourless chemical signals, called pheromones. It’s a way for cats to communicate that they feel at ease and comfortable. Thankfully, clever humans have learned how to copy these chemicals. You can now purchase cat pheromone wipes, diffusers, sprays and wipes. Pheromone products will help send the message to your cat that their new space is safe and allow them to feel more secure. You can use wipes and sprays to mark specific items. I plan on plugging in a diffuser and allowing the pheromones to fill specific rooms beforehand. I have seen how Knuffel has calmed down from a pheromone collar in the past as a kitten and highly recommend using the collar as this “safe signal” follows them wherever they go.
Speaking of collars, make sure that your cat is wearing a well fitted, quick release collar with your updated contact details. Seeing that cats are only recommended to wear quick release collars, it’s always wise to have your cat microchipped. This way you can easily be contacted if someone finds your kitty wandering around, lost in their new neighbourhood.
Just as you provided a safe space while all the action was happening during the moving out process, you should make sure to provide the same comfortable space when moving into your new home. Bathrooms or smaller bedrooms are ideal to keep your kitty away from the craziness until things have calmed down. Smaller rooms will help them not to feel too overwhelmed by their new environment.
As mentioned before, cats mark their territory. Be sure to therefore have as many of their familiar favourites around them to help them adjust to the new space. This does not only count for their soft blankies, toys and scratchers (which should be in their comfort zone), but try to speed up with the unpacking of the big furniture items, usual bedding and items which they know and are familiar with from their previous home.
Put time aside to spend some quality time cuddling and comforting your cat as much as you can. This is a very scary time for them (and most likely a very stressful time for you). It will probably do you both good to have some chill time together. Also, don’t forget the power of cat treats! It really helps lighten the mood and to create to create positive associations.
After some days (usually around 3 or so) or until your cat shows that they feel comfortable and confident, you can introduce them to their new home. It is recommended to do this in stages and room by room. It’s very helpful to have your kitty in their cat harness for when you reach the garden and outside area. Top tip: Cats feel safer when they can be higher up, which is something to keep in mind if you perhaps encounter something which could catch them by surprise.
Until your cat has fully adjusted, never leave them unsupervised in the entire open home. Scared kitties tend to squeeze themselves into dangerous nooks and corners in order to feel safe. It’s important to keep an eye on their litterbox to see if they are still doing their business as usual. You should also make sure to visit your vet immediately if your cat has not eaten or had any water for 2 days.
25 Feb 2024
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